Octopath Traveler
a game by | Square Enix |
Platform: | PC (2018) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 10.0/10 - 3 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Anime Games, Manga Games, JRPG Games, Games Like Kingdom Come Deliverance |
Octopath Traveler is a traditional turn-based RPG developed by Square Enix, the prolific creators of the Final Fantasy franchise. Although Octopath Traveler is a notably different experience than Final Fantasy, fans of the hugely popular franchise will undoubtedly be intrigued. Like any role-playing game, you'll embark on an epic adventure full of memorable characters, fearsome enemies, and precious loot. However, Octopath Traveler changes things up by splitting its story into eight unique character-based arcs. An inventive art style and dozens of hours of strategic fun make Octopath Traveler a perfect game for any RPG fan!
Main Game Features
- Eight focal characters with dedicated plots
- Turn-based battle system with lots of strategies
- Retro-inspired visuals
Story
The story of Octopath Traveler takes place in Orsterra, a beautiful fantasy land believed to be created by thirteen gods and goddesses. The narrative is spread out across eight different sub-stories, each one focused on a different adventurer in Orsterra. In order to discover the truth behind Osterra's mysteries and the threat facing the land, you'll need to complete every tale. There's a great variety in the cast of playable characters, ranging from knights and thieves to salesmen and scholars.
While these stories eventually come together to form a natural conclusion to the overall narrative, most of the plots are remarkably different and have no bearing on each other. You'll seek revenge, hunt monsters, recover ancient relics, and much more on your dozens of hours of adventuring. Since Octopath Traveler mostly resembles a 16-bit era RPG, a good chunk of storytelling is done through dialogue sections. The voice-acting is very well done and available in multiple languages.
Gameplay
Most of your hours in Octopath Traveler will be spent adventuring around the wilds of Orsterra, where you'll inevitably run into enemy creatures. The battle system in Octopath Traveler is both nostalgic and inventive, providing an endlessly entertaining turn-based system. As you go about your quest and amass party members, you'll be able to select four characters to take into battle. While each character has their own strengths and unique abilities, the true crux of combat is in the enemy weakness mechanics. Each monster has both visible and hidden weaknesses, that when exploited, offer opportunities for huge damage. This encourages you to try out every character, use new strategies, and carefully plan your attack.
What really sets Octopath Traveler apart from most other turn-based RPGs is its art style. The game blends together retro, Super Nintendo-style characters and environments with realistic, modern visual touches. It's a great fusion of pixel-art and impressive lighting effects, which make every new location interesting to explore and every new fight exciting to behold. Octopath Traveler's visual style will be especially appreciated by fans of the classic Final Fantasy games, as well as any fan of retro-inspired pixel-art.
Not only is Octopath Traveler fun to play, but it looks great and has some exceptionally cool stories. While the narrative can sometimes falter due to its scattered structure, the variety of characters and personalities is well worth it. Fans of RPGs from the 80s and 90s will especially enjoy Octopath Traveler's look and feel, while genre newcomers will easily become addicted to its surprisingly complex battle system. Considering the game was crafted by the masterminds behind Final Fantasy, it's no surprise that Octopath Traveler is one of the best RPGs in recent memory.
Pros
- Good character variety
- Addictive battle system
- Unique retro/modern hybrid visuals
Cons
- Inconsistent story quality
- Repetitive quests
Download Octopath Traveler
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP